Daytona Beach Shores, FL-Police in Daytona Beach Shores made quick work of an arrest of a suspect in a violence home invasion style crime at a hotel Wednesday charging 49-year-old Zachary Brownlee of Daytona Beach.
Police say a 9-year-old boy ran to the front desk of the Lexington Inn on South Atlantic Avenue around 5:41 PM Wednesday telling the clerk a man was beating his elderly parents in the room.
Police say it started when the suspect began talking to the boy’s father, identifed as 77-year-old William Keener, at the hotel pool about the boy. Later the same man knocked on the man’s hotel door. When the child answered he offered him candy to let him in. Once inside, the man demanded money from Keener and then began hitting him when Keener said he didn’t have any money. Keener yelled to his wife to get his gun and the suspect then attacked her. The wife is identified as 78-year-old Sydney North. During the attack on North, the boy ran from the room to the front desk.
Keener was able to describe the suspect to police when they arrived. Witnesses reported the man had ridden a bicycle northbound. Brownlee was stopped minutes later and found to be wearing the clothing described by the victims and witnesses under his outer clothes. Police say Brownlee is a habitual offender who was released from prison less than two months ago.
Keener, who uses a walker, was treated at the scene. North was taken to Halifax Hospital for treatment of internal injuries.
Brownlee is charged with Home Invasion Robbery, two counts of Aggravated Battery on Person over 65 and possession of cannabis, was transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail on $60,500.00 bond.
Brownlee jail booking photo
